She throws clay, he turns wood at their Alex studio
By Rachel Barduson
Bill and Merodie (Mimi) Seykora are living their dream in retirement – surrounded by clay and wood and all the things that can be used to create unique pottery and bowls, boards and more. They live on Lake Brophy near Alexandria and the nature that surrounds them - wherever they are – inspires them to create works of art.
“I took my first ceramics class in high school and I just wanted to throw one mug on the potters wheel. (Throwing is shaping an article from a clay body on a potters wheel). I worked on it for weeks and my goal was to just finish it,” she said. That mug lead to a lot more clay throwing in Mimi’s lifetime.
A lover of art, with the passion and the creativity it instills in her, Mimi majored in art in college with an emphasis on ceramics, graduating from the University of North Colorado with a K-12 teaching degree. “At that time it was next to impossible to find a teaching job because I wanted to teach art. I couldn’t find that dream job at the time. Bill and I got married and moved to Owatonna with plans to open a restaurant.”
In 1981, Bill and Mimi moved to Alexandria. Bill had been hired by the Holiday Inn, yet the couple continued to pursue their dream of opening a restaurant. In 1985, Bill became a partner in owning and operating a new restaurant in town called the Depot Express. Taking on the dream of making the old train depot a popular eatery in Alexandria was hard work from the bottom up – gutting it down to its bare walls inside, pulling down the false ceiling – opening up the space into what it would become. “I pulled nails out of all the old lumber and we reused everything,” Mimi explained.
While doing this, and raising their son Andy, Mimi put her aspirations of teaching art on hold. As the restaurant grew in popularity she worked in sales at the Echo Press, also in Alexandria.
In 1989, Mimi bought a kiln and started making ceramic jewelry. She brought her jewelry to Art in the Park (an annual Andria Theatre summer event at the City Park in Alexandria). Within a couple years, she started selling her jewelry at the Crafters Tour and other art shows in Minnesota.
Clay is in Mimi Seykora’s blood and when she sits down at her potter’s wheel the magic really begins.
“I like to play with my own ideas and my own designs. I will turn on the music, grab the clay, sometimes not knowing what I am going to do with it. I put some texture on the slab, I start putting sides together, pretty soon the piece is on my lap and the odd form begins to have breath. The relationship I have developed with the clay today is very different than when in college. When I’m at the wheel I have to shut off the left side of my brain - and allow the other side of my brain to feel the clay throwing, and shaping the clay,” she said. “Throwing is very rhythmical and meditative. Actually, it’s more than meditative.”
Today, Mimi is teaching the art of throwing as she continues to create her pottery.
“I have learned through observing new students trying to center the clay on the wheel as they throw. If they struggle to center the clay on the wheel they get discouraged. Sometimes they are chasing the off-center part of the clay on the wheel. I tell them not to chase it...just let it come to you The thing that is different today on ceramic training than the training I had in college is some potters are just looking for the steps on how to make something, and not paying attention to the clay, responding to what it needs or what the possibilities are and then creating and discovering new techniques and designs. Back when I was in college it was more about the rich history, techniques and cultures which evolved around pottery and why they made what they did and how they discovered clays, firing processes and glazes. This is important, but it’s not what makes an artist.”
She said being in artist is more than just following step by step directions.
“As artists we can’t be regulated by right or wrong. Instead, it becomes a part of an emotional letting go. I love to do hand building and throw. I throw with my eyes closed. I find peace. I feel the condition of the clay and the thickness, it is grounding me. It regenerates me and it’s very healthy to regenerate your soul. I have allowed myself to learn my own way and with that, I know I learn better.”
Mimi says that doing it that way gives you an understanding of what is happening with the clay. “I tell my students to experiment with the clay. You may possibly fail, but it’s how you learn. Play with it until you feel something. Where do I go with this? Is it a vase? Is it a sculpture? I love the process. I love the challenge.”
Creating and designing with different kinds of wood is what Bill does. His talent and passion is evident. His father did wood turning on a lathe, so the creativity is in his blood. In retirement Bill spends his days in his shop, on the golf course, or discovering wood that will become a potential bowl, Lazy Susan, or wall art. He’s living his dream.
Bill is a self-taught turner who has always loved working with wood. In 1989, he bought his first lathe and began turning bowls. Shortly, the small lathe was losing his interest as he wanted to make larger bowls, so a new lathe was purchased. For several years he turned just bowls, discovering the many different characteristics of woods such as spalting and ribboning, realizing that every tree tells a story of its life.
Bill has never been afraid of trying new things and before they knew what a Charcuterie board was, he was making them, using a variety of wood and epoxy resin. A friend asked him if he would teach her how to turn a colored pencil bowl. Bill said “sure!” Not actually knowing how to do it, he learned and this lead to wondering what else he could put into resin other than wood and colored pencils. Soon there was resin with pine cones, Popsicle sticks, Japanese Knotweed. All made into boards, pepper grinders, Lazy Susan’s, and so much more. Soon to follow, he was making tables, benches, cutting boards - constantly looking for new woods purchased throughout the United States.
For several years the Seykora’s would sell their art at galleries and art shows throughout the United States. When Covid hit all of the shows were canceled. The couple talked about eventually stopping their plans to sell their art at outdoor art shows. When they discontinued the art shows people started going to their shop. With so many people coming to their shop, the couple did eventually stop going to most of the outdoor shows, although they still have their work at a few galleries.
So, it goes to say, if you give Bill any time to play he will come up with a new idea, much like his wife Mimi, they love to see what they can create.
Mimi and Bill will be representing their bowls and pottery at the 40th Annual Alexandria Holiday Arts and Crafters Tour, which features juried artisans from the lakes area selling quality creations. The event will be held on Nov. 9-10 at the Legacy of the Lakes Museum in Alexandria.
Mimi will also have both her and Bill’s artwork at Bon Jos in Alexandria from Nov. 21 – 23. In addition, Bill has his artwork at the Scandinavian Gift Shop in Alexandria.
Turning Lake Design Studio is located at 4365 County Road 82 near Alexandria. They are open whenever they are home – and they love visitors.
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